DAMASCUS, (SANA)-President Michel Suleiman of Lebanon on Tuesday welcomed the announcement of establishing diplomatic ties on the level of Ambassadors between Syria and Lebanon.

A Presidential media statement said "President Suleiman expressed hope the move will be a beginning to restore the brilliant relations between the two brotherly countries."

For his part, Chairman of the Maronite General Council Wadi al-Khazen welcomed procedures taken by Syria on the Lebanese joint northern and eastern borders , saying "the security active movement which comes in cooperation with Syria has obstructed infiltrations."

Al-Khazen also welcomed the arrest of members of the terrorist cell in Lebanon in the north of the country, underlining the importance of security cooperation between Syria and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Regional Secretary of al-Baath Arab Socialist party in Lebanon Fayez Shukr underlined the importance of the brotherly relations between Syria and Lebanon.

Shukr in a statement called for holding a national strategy based on the Lebanese army and resistance.

Mazen